Pituitary gland
The pituitary gland (or hypophysis cerebri) is an endocrine gland in vertebrates. In humans, the pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain, protruding off the bottom of the hypothalamus. The human pituitary gland is oval shaped, about the size of a chickpea, and weighs 0.5 grams (0.018 oz) on average.
| Pituitary gland | |
|---|---|
Located at the base of the brain, the pituitary gland is protected by a bony structure called the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone. | |
Median sagittal through the hypophysis of an adult monkey. Semidiagrammatic. | |
| Details | |
| Precursor | neural and oral ectoderm, including Rathke's pouch |
| Artery | superior hypophyseal artery, infundibular artery, prechiasmal artery, inferior hypophyseal artery, capsular artery, artery of the inferior cavernous sinus |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | hypophysis, glandula pituitaria |
| MeSH | D010902 |
| NeuroLex ID | birnlex_1353 |
| TA98 | A11.1.00.001 |
| TA2 | 3853 |
| FMA | 13889 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
Hormones secreted from the pituitary gland help to control growth, blood pressure, energy management, all functions of the sex organs, thyroid glands, metabolism, as well as some aspects of pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, water/salt concentration at the kidneys, temperature regulation, and pain relief.
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